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Commission

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Revised Edition
published on 26 Jul 1950

Inquiry Commissions Ordinance 1941

No. 5 of 1941

Commission

N 8

G.N. No. S 1573/1950

REVISED EDITION 1990

( )

[26 July 1950]

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GEORGE VI by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith.

By His Excellency Sir FRANKLIN CHARLES GIMSON, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Singapore.

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Whereas it is provided by the Inquiry Commissions Ordinance 1941 that it shall be lawful for the Governor whenever he shall deem it advisable to issue a Commission appointing one or more Commissioners to enquire inter alia into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, be for the public welfare:

And Whereas the Governor in Council has deemed it expedient and in the interests of public welfare that a diligent and full inquiry should forthwith be made into the following matters, namely:

1.	The establishment and the working of the Seamen’s Registration Bureau constituted under the provisions of section 38 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and the general conduct of its affairs;

2.	The method of engagement of seamen in the Colony;

3.	The constitution and duties of the Seafarers’ Administration Board constituted under the provisions of section 39A of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance;

4.	The practice of pre-selection of seamen by Masters of Ships through their own agents and the legality thereof;

5.	The legality of the division of the Roster of unemployed seamen kept under the provisions of rule 9 of the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Registration Bureau) Rules 1948 into two parts, i.e., of seamen for deep sea and local ships respectively.

Now, therefore, I, Sir FRANKLIN CHARLES GIMSON, hereby appoint the following persons, namely:

The Honourable Mr. Justice Cox Evans,

Mr. Frederick George Ritchie, and

Mr. David Irvine Greer,

to be Commissioners and hereby authorise the said Commissioners to inquire into the matters aforesaid as hereinafter directed:

1.	I direct that the Honourable Mr. Justice Cox Evans shall be Chairman of this Commission of Inquiry.

2.	I direct that the first sitting of the Commission shall take place in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council on such date and at such hour as the Chairman may designate and that at any sitting of the Commission two members shall form a quorum.

3.	I direct that the Commission shall normally hold its sittings in the Council Chamber of the Legislative Council but shall have power in its discretion to adjourn to any other suitable place to hear evidence or for any other purpose connected with its duties.

4.	I direct that the Inquiry shall be held in public: Provided that the Chairman of the Commission may in his discretion direct that any evidence may be heard in camera or otherwise recorded without being made available to the public.

I appoint Mr. Anthony George Barnden Colton to be Secretary to the Commission and to attend the sittings thereof and generally to exercise the powers conferred and to carry out the duties imposed upon such Secretary as are referred to in section 6 of the said Inquiry Commission Ordinance 1941 and I authorise the Secretary to employ such clerical or other assistance for the purposes of the Inquiry as the Commissioners may require. In case of necessity I also authorise the Chairman of the Commission to appoint any suitable person temporarily to act as Secretary to the Commission.

6.	I direct the Commissioner of Police to detail police constables to attend upon the Commission for the purpose of preserving order during the proceedings, to serve summons on witnesses or to perform such ministerial duties as the Commissioners shall direct.

7.	Finally, I direct that the Commissioners after completing their inquiry render to me their report thereon and make such recommendations as they may think necessary.

Given at Singapore this 25th day of July 1950.

By His Excellency’s Command,

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